BODY AND MIND

The manifestation of double pneumonia

Double pneumonia is a serious and potentially fatal disease affecting both lungs. It is the leading cause of death worldwide in children under 5 years of age. Urgent treatment and appropriate medical care, however, allows for a good recovery.

What is double pneumonia?

Doctors refer to the disease as bilateral pneumonia. Unlike pneumonia, which affects only one lung, double pneumonia affects both at the same time. It occurs when a bacteria, virus or fungus causes inflammation of the tiny sacs in the lungs. These sacs, known as alveoli, will fill with fluid or pus and cause a variety of symptoms.

Symptoms of the disease

The main signs

Most often, double pneumonia develops next to or after another respiratory illness. The main symptoms of the disease are:

Similarly, people who feel very ill after a respiratory infection such as influenza must suspect illness.

The possibilities of complication

The progression of double pneumonia can lead to serious complications. People with a weak immune system are at greater risk of developing them. Weakening can be the result of age, illness or debilitating diseases. One of the likely complications that can occur is sepsis. This is an infection that causes systemic inflammation in the body. Other complications include lung abscess, pleural effusions and pleurisy. Pleurisy causes chest pain when the person breathes deeply or coughs. Finally, kidney and respiratory failure are also likely complications of double pneumonia.

Causes of double pneumonia

The causes

Infections that enter the lungs are the most common cause of the disease. This can be a bacterial infection caused by bacteria: it is the most common cause in adults. Viral infections due to viruses such as influenza can also cause double pneumonia. In young children it is often respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Similarly, viral pneumonia can cause secondary bacterial pneumonia. Rarely, people can develop pneumonia from inhaling certain fungi.

People at risk

Some people are more vulnerable to double pneumonia than others. These include people over 65 years of age and young children. Other conditions such as malnutrition, smoking and lung disease also increase the risk of infection. The same is true for the person with a chronic illness or an immune system that has been weakened by the disease. The same is true for someone who has difficulty swallowing or has recently had a viral infection.

The treatment

A doctor's diagnosis

Symptoms are not enough to determine if a person has double pneumonia. A doctor's consultation is necessary for anyone who suspects it. This must be the case for a person with a high fever and difficulty breathing. If the person is among those at risk and presents one of the symptoms of the disease, he or she should seek treatment as soon as possible. To diagnose double pneumonia, the doctor may need to:

Treatment options

The treatment of double pneumonia depends on the cause of the pneumonia. If the pneumonia is bacterial, antibiotic therapy is necessary. If the pneumonia is viral, antibiotics cannot work unless they actually work against viral infections. Treatments are also essential to treat the serious infections that pneumonia has caused. For example, in the case of infectious pleural effusion or septicaemia, intravenous antimicrobial therapy is useful. Some other treatments focus on limiting damage to the lungs. They ensure that a person can breathe properly. Treatment may then include extra oxygen and good monitoring. However, people with the disease should not take cough medicine unless the doctor tells them to do so. This is because, although it is unpleasant, coughing helps the body get rid of the infection.

Means of prevention

Microbes entering the airways can cause pneumonia in some people and not in others. It all depends on individual risk factors. In any case, for people who know themselves to be weak, they should avoid those with respiratory infections. In particular, people should avoid places where sick people may be, such as hospitals, unless there is an urgent need. In addition, chronic medical conditions must be treated according to the doctor's instructions. Pneumonia and flu shots are also essential. Finally, regular hand washing with soap should not be underestimated as it helps prevent germs.